Resilient pushbutton terminal



Nov. 11, 1969 L. J. VALLE 3,478,304

RESILIENI PUSHBUT'ION TERMINAL Filed Sept. 12, 1967 Fi .2 36 r United States Patent 3,478,304 RESILIENT PUSHBUTTON TERMINAL Louis J. Valle, Ardsley-on-Hudson, N.Y., assignor to Naflonal Tel-Tronics Corporation, Yonkers, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 12, 1967, Ser. No. 667,221 Int. Cl. H011- 13/24 U.S. Cl. 339-203 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A resilient pushbutton terminal for electrical connectors, including an insulative planar base member, a' first relatively fixed member formed as a sheet metal stamping and interconnected to the base member, a second relatively moveable element also formed as a sheet metal stamping and positioned in sliding relation with respect to the first element, a portion of the second element projecting through a longitudinally aligned opening in the first element, and engaging an insulative member disposed externally of the first element and sliding therewith, and resilient means for clamping an electrical conductor between portions of said first and second elements.

This invention relates generally to the field of resilient electrical terminals adopted to interconnect an electrical conductor by clamping the same between two relatively moveable elements thereof, and more particularly to an improved construction of this type suitable for mounting upon a non-conductive base for conducting a current through said base to a terminal on an opposite side thereof.

Terminals, of the type the within disclosed device is adapted to replace, have been traditionally formed from tubular brass components, and have featured a screw type retaining member projecting from an upward end thereof. This construction has been expensive to manufacture, and while sturdy and durable in operation, considerable time is required to attach and disconnect a conductor therewith. While resilient type retaining means is known in the art, such means have not been previously employed in terminals of the above described type,

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved resilient type terminal, in which the above mentioned disadvantages have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of improved resilient pushbutton electrical terminal construction in which a substantial portion of the same is enclosed within an insulative cover element, whereby shock hazard may be substantially reduced, or eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved resilient push button terminal construction, in which the metallic components thereof may be formed as sheet metal stampings, thereby materially lowering production costs.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved push button terminal construction of the class described, in which the total cost of manufacture may be of a relatively low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the complete absence of machined parts comprising any portion of the same.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been 3,478,304 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly in section, of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view thereof as seen from the right hand portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof, as seen from the plane 33 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view in elevation of a cover element forming a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the cover element.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a first relatively fixed conductive element forming a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the same element.

FIGURE 8 is a view in elevation of the single metallic stamping forming the element shown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view thereof, as seen from the right hand portion of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view thereof, as seen from the right hand portion of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of a second relatively moveable element comprising a part of the embodiment.

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view thereof, as seen from the lower portion of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view thereof, as seen from the right hand portion of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a view in elevation of the metallic blank forming the second element.

In accordance with the invention, the device generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a base member 11, a first relatively fixed element 12, a second relatively moveable element 13, a cover element 14 and a spring 15.

The base member 11 may be formed of any suitable insulative planar material, as for example phenolic materials, fibrous laminates, wood, or the like. The dimensions of the same will, to a large extent, depend upon the number of such devices which are to be mounted thereon, while the thickness thereof, as measured between an upper surface 16 and a lower surface 17 is determined by considerations of mechanical strength. A plurality of through openings 18 are provided for accommodating portions of the element .12, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 in the drawing.

The first relatively fixed element 12 is formed as a. metallic stamping, the unitary blank prior to bending, be indicated by reference character 20 in FIGURE 8. The blank 20 includs a tab 21 for the interconnection by soldering of a conductor (not shown) the tab 21 including an opening 22 through Which the conductor may be inserted prior to soldering. A pair of side wall forming portions 23 and 24 include bendable tabs 25, and alignable openings 26 through which a second conductor (to be resiliently retained) is inserted, the side wall forming portions 23-24 being interconnected by an upper wall 27 having a recessed projection 28 engaging one end of the spring 15 (see FIGURE 1). Locating edges 29 are adapted to engage the upper surface 16 of the base member 11 when the element 12 is installed.

A second relatively moveable element 13 is formed in a similar manner from a blank 30 (see FIGURE 14), and includes a pair of relatively longer arms 31, and a pair of relatively shorter arms 32 all supported by a centrally disposed rectangularly shaped interconnecting portion 33.

The cover element 14 is formed of a synthetic resinous insulative material as a unitary injection molding, and is bounded by an upper wall 36, and side walls 37, 38, 39 and 40 to define a cavity 41 of rectangular configuration corresponding to that of the assembled element 12. The inner surface 42 of the cavity leads to a pair of elongated 3 parallel recesses 44 and 45 adapted to be force fitted to the ends of the arms 31, again as best seen in FIGURE 1.

The device is assembled by bending the blank 20 along the fold lines 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52 (see FIGURE 8) wherein the element 12 takes the configuration shown in FIGURES 6, 7, 9 and 10, and defines slotted openings 53 on either side of the free edges of the wall 27 (FIG- URES 6 and 7).

Next, the blank 30 is folded along the lines 54, 55, '6 and 57 t0 the configuration shown in FIGURES ll, 12 and 13 and inserted within the element 12 so that the longer arms 31 project through the slotted openings 53 in the element 12. As the outer surfaces of the element 13 fit within the rectangular channel formed by the first element 12, a smooth sliding fit is obtained therebetween. This is materiall assisted by the guiding action of the arms 31 within the openings 53.

The spring 15 is then positioned to engage the portion 28, and tabs 25 are inserted within the corresponding openings in the base member 11 and bent over to the configuration shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 7 whereby the element 12 is fixed in position such that the principal axis of the same extends perpendicularly to the plane of the base member 11. Finally the cover element 14 is force fitted to the projecting ends 58 of the arms 31. In this condition the recesses 44 clear the openings 26 irrespective of the relative possible positions of the element 13 with respect to the element 12.

To engage a conductor (not shown) it is necessary only to press down on the end surface 59 of the cover element 14 to compress the spring 15 and permit a sliding movement downwardly of the element 13 with respect to the element 12 to a point where the openings 26 are uncovered. The conductor is then inserted and pressure removed, whereby the spring 15 expands to clamp the conductors between the upper surface of the interconnecting portion 33 and the upper portions of the edges of the openings 26. A similar action permits removal of the conductor when no longer required.

It will be observed that the entire device is formed of synthetic resinous moldings and bent metallic stampings without resort to machined parts of any kind. Owing to the presence of a large area of mutually sliding surfaces, the device is substantially free of friction during engagement and disengagement of a conductor.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention to be limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A resilient pushbutton terminal device of a type adapted to resiliently engage a conductor between first and second mutually slidably engaged elements, said device comprising: a planar insulative base member having openings extending through the plane thereof; a first element having a conductive lug extending through one of said openings, and base member engaging tabs projecting through the other of said openings and maintaining said element in fixed relation upon said base member, said first element being of hollow configuration and defining at least one slotted opening therein at an end opposite said base member; a second element of configuration corresponding to the interior of said first element and arranged in sliding contact therewith, said second element having at least one arm extending longitudinally thereof and passing through said slotted opening in said first ele ment; and insulative cover element connected to said arm and at least partially surrounding said first element; resilient means positioned between said base member and said second element for urging said second element to predetermined position with respect to said first element; said first element including a pair of slotted openings and a corresponding pair of longitudinally extending arms on said second element.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, said first and second elements being formed as unitary metallic stampings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,475,448 7/ 1949 Cusato 339-220 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,907 11/ 1920 Germany. 1,108,766 6/1961 Germany. 1,116,766 11/ 1961 Germany.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner J. H. McGLYNN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 339-254 

